COT: Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 28, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The following from the FOMC statement drew a lot of attention: “The Committee anticipates that it will be appropriate to raise the target … Continued

In Wake Of Huge Tuesday Reversal, Short Put On IWM

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

U.S. small-caps have been through a lot in recent months.  Chart 1 says it all.  Will that change following Tuesday’s huge reversal? Since the Russell 2000 Index (1224.6) broke the mid-October 2014 trend line toward the end of April, it … Continued

Beat Up And Down In The Dumps, Gold Pulls Off Reversal Last Friday

posted in: Commodities, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

Another down week for gold – fifth in a row!  Last Friday’s action in the meantime points to potential relief ahead – at least near-term. At one point when the metal made a weekly low on Friday, it was down … Continued

Weekly Naked Call Write On SPY, Which Looks Tired Near-Term

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When VIX (12.22), the S&P 500 Volatility Index, spiked past 20 nine sessions ago, there was a lot of chatter as to if this time the breakout was real.  It was not.  In the subsequent eight sessions since that peak, … Continued

Weekly Covered Call Post-GLD Breakdown

The yellow metal cannot catch a break. GLD, the SPDR Gold ETF, broke down last week, losing eight-month support at $110.  The corresponding support on spot gold lies around $1,140.  Friday, gold closed at $1,132.20 and GLD at $108.65. The … Continued

Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 14, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Fed Chair Janet Yellen during her mid-week Humphrey-Hawkins testimony reiterated her desire to hike interest rates later this year, if data cooperate.  On … Continued

Can Bulls Use Short Interest To Their Advantage?

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In the right circumstances, U.S. stocks have room to rally – at least in the near-term.  After the recent pullback, U.S.-based stock funds attracted $14.1 billion in the week ended July 8 – biggest inflows since mid-December (courtesy of Lipper).  … Continued

Covering ITB Shorts — For Now

June’s housing starts will be published this Friday.  Month-to-month, this is a volatile series.  May was down 11 percent, while April was up 22 percent.  Historically, starts remain low.  As Chart 1 shows, it is not often the green line … Continued

COT: Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 7, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: After the June FOMC minutes were released, investors pushed back expectations for the first interest rate hike to March next year.  The minutes … Continued

Cash-Secured Put To Benefit From Potential N/T Strength In Otherwise Unloved Gold

Looking around, there is no lack of things for investors to worry about.  Although that is not the impression one gets looking at how gold is trading. After an incessant rally, Chinese stocks are in the midst of a sharp … Continued